Biography

US Congressman. Attended Yale College, but graduated from Harvard University in 1783. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in the early 1780s. He commenced his first practice in Hudson, NY, where he served as city clerk from 1786-1793. He was elected member of the state assembly from 1793-1795 and he also served in the state senate 1795-1804;. He was the assistant attorney general in 1796 and the attorney general of New York from 1802-1804. He was justice of the state supreme court 1804-1819 and chief justice from 1819-1823. He resumed his law practice in Albany, NY afterwards, and was then elected as an Anti-Jacksonian to the 21st Congress (1829-1831). However, he was unsuccessful candidate for reelection. He was also the mayor of Albany from 1824-1826. He moved to Lyons, NY in 1839 and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was the  president of the Whig National Convention at Baltimore in 1844.